A vessel design firm hired by a Prince William Sound environmental watchdog group is very skeptical of the capability of tugs being built to escort oil tankers out of Valdez. Marine engineer Robert Allan told members of the Prince William Sound...

Besides the general layout, I really have to wonder if these boats will be set up for the cold temps that they will be operating in never mind crew comfort. The Foredeck for one thing as it sounds like it will be a swimming pool once the freeing ports get clogged with ice, which anyone that has worked in the North know can and will happen.

Too bad a certain member got himself banned as I’m sure he would have some colorful responses to this article.

A vessel design firm hired by a Prince William Sound environmental watchdog group is very skeptical of the capability of tugs being built to escort oil tankers out of Valdez. Marine engineer Robert Allan told members of the Prince William Sound...

Besides the general layout, I really have to wonder if these boats will be set up for the cold temps that they will be operating in never mind crew comfort. The Foredeck for one thing as it sounds like it will be a swimming pool once the freeing ports get clogged with ice, which anyone that has worked in the North know can and will happen.

Too bad a certain member got himself banned as I’m sure he would have some colorful responses to this article.[/QUOTE]

Let’s hope that ECO has not just bought a standard Damen design without modifications to suite the proposed work in Alaska. Hopefully they have also consulted Mariners with experience from such work, not just engineers.

The presenter of this report even acknowledges that he did not have all the specs of the new vessels and that some issues are just differences of (professional) opinion. I am sure the Damen designs are up to the job.

Of course we realize that you are only an impersonator, but you’re really good. Have you considered trying out for Saturday Night Live? Your remarks are probably a very good imitation of ECO’s know-it-all cavalier attitude. That’s what scares us so much.

Ain’t he great? We laugh, but if he keeps it up he may just land himself a seat on the Board of Trustees…

[QUOTE=ombugge;195607]ECO is NOT designing these tugs, DAMAN is!!![/QUOTE]

Touche, thanks for the correction. However ECO’s history in Alaska speaks for itself and their winning of that contract should be investigated IMHO. Probably some bribery involved.

Sooo… commissioned by Chouest, designed by Damen(with the input from the ECO crew who are highly experienced in alaskan waters and Valdez?), built at Chouest’s yards, and operated by Chouest. I’m sure everything will be fine.

Have you worked for them? I know several higher up people there and none of them have that type of attitude.

After ECO’s highly experienced rig towing experts took the wrong route, at the wrong time of year, into well forecast severe weather, taut-lined the far too short tow wire for hours ignoring alarms and overpressure indications, surprise surprise, they parted the tow wire leading to Aiviq losing propulsion and Kulluk ended up on the rocks— a total loss of the only well proven Arctic drilling rig. This resulted in regulatory push back that killed Arctic drilling for at least another generation.

Two years later, in spite of a damning USCG investigation report, ECO higher ups nonetheless insisted in the press that ECO had done nothing wrong. They are not just inexperienced in Alaska, unskilled, and without basic knowledge of towing. They are big fat liars. The last people we need back in Alaska.

After ECO’s highly experienced rig towing experts took the wrong route, at the wrong time of year, into well forecast severe weather, taut-lined the far too short tow wire for hours ignoring alarms and overpressure indications, surprise surprise, they parted the tow wire leading to Aiviq losing propulsion and Kulluk ended up on the rocks— a total loss of the only well proven Arctic drilling rig. This resulted in regulatory push back that killed Arctic drilling for at least another generation. Two years later, in spite of a damning USCG investigation report, ECO higher ups nonetheless insisted in the press that ECO had done nothing wrong. They are not just inexperienced in Alaska, unskilled, and without basic knowledge of towing. They are big fat liars. The last people we need back in Alaska.

After ECO’s highly experienced rig towing experts took the wrong route, at the wrong time of year, into well forecast severe weather, taut-lined the far too short tow wire for hours ignoring alarms and overpressure indications, surprise surprise, they parted the tow wire leading to Aiviq losing propulsion and Kulluk ended up on the rocks— a total loss of the only well proven Arctic drilling rig. This resulted in regulatory push back that killed Arctic drilling for at least another generation. Two years later, in spite of a damning USCG investigation report, ECO higher ups nonetheless insisted in the press that ECO had done nothing wrong. They are not just inexperienced in Alaska, unskilled, and without basic knowledge of towing. They are big fat liars. The last people we need back in Alaska.